Archive for July, 2010
Ten reasons to buy LED Light bulbs
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been turning up all over the place, which leads one to wonder why. What’s so great about these little lights? Why are we seeing more and more LED light bulbs cropping up on everything from cars to traffic lights? US Lighting Products is staying up to date on the latest technology to ensure our customers are saving energy and money.
LED light bulbs have some very clear advantages over other types of lighting, such as:
1. LED light bulbs last longer. Without a filament to break or burn out, LED light bulbs can last for over 100,000 hours without showing their age (that’s over eleven years at full brightness). This lifespan is twice that of typical fluorescent bulbs and twenty times longer than incandescent light bulbs.
2. They are energy efficient. An incandescent light bulb loses 80 percent of its energy to heat, leaving only the last 20 percent for light. LED light bulbs turn this around, giving up a scant 20 percent of their energy to heat loss. Not only that, but they operate at 10 to 20 percent of the power required for incandescent bulbs of similar brightness.
3. LEDs are more colorful. LED light bulbs can be made in a vast array of colors without the use of extra filters, which brings down production costs. They also provide a truer, brighter color than a filtered bulb.
4. LED light bulbs work in silence. The days of humming bulbs came to an end with the creation of LEDs, so there’s no need to lose sanity listening to the thrum, tick, or ping of other light bulbs.
5. They are incredibly safe. With so little energy lost to heat and so little energy used overall, LED light bulbs run cool, which means no burnt fingers or burnt down houses. They are extremely durable thanks to their solid-state construction, so there’s no broken glass to deal with, either.
6. LED light bulbs are focused. LEDs can be made to focus without the use of extra reflectors or lenses, which means less bulk and lower cost for the same beam of light.
7. They are the best for dimming. Incandescent bulbs turn yellow when dimmed, while LED light bulbs retain their true colors.
8. LEDs are versatile. Thanks to the wide array of colors and shapes LEDs be made to replace most any light bulb. Their diminutive size and power-sipping nature also open up a world of possibility, from infrared remote control lights to ultra-light headlamps.
9. LED light bulbs bring light quickly. Lighting up to their full brightness in microseconds, LEDs are a safer choice when reaction time is a factor, like when that car in the fast lane slams on the brakes.
10. They promise a brighter future. LED light bulbs don’t contain mercury, like compact fluorescent bulbs do. Combining that with the fact that they outlast their energy efficient cousins, makes the choice to go LED clear as day.
LED light bulbs have a staggering number of uses, and somehow they keep excelling at all of them. When it’s time to shed light on the subject, this jack-of-all-trades masters all.
Sources
eBay, Advantages of LED Lighting
LEDWorks, Basic LED Information–Advantages and Applications
DOE plans consumer-education initiative on energy-saving lighting
The DOE will work with leaders in the retail and manufacturing segments to educate consumers on green lighting options including LED-based SSL.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) used its SSL Market Introduction Workshop in Philadelphia as a venue to preview a new consumer-education campaign to promote green lighting options. The DOE will partner with GE, Philips, Cree, Osram Sylvania, Home Depot, Costco Wholesale, and Grainger to promote LED-based solid-state lighting (SSL) and other energy-saving lighting options.
The DOE is planning the initiative to coincide with upcoming changes in light-bulb regulation. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 will begin to phase out incandescent bulbs in 2012 – beginning with the 100W lamp and then continuing with lower wattage bulbs on a progressive basis over a two-year period.
According to the DOE press release, “The ultimate effect of phasing out inefficient light sources will be significant national energy savings and a shrunken carbon footprint. However, without an effective consumer education process, these new performance levels could cause considerable confusion.”
The point that the DOE is making is that consumers will need to understand a new figure of merit in place of wattage as an indicator of light output. Indeed wattage has never been a direct measure of light output and new products such as SSL replacement lamps will user a fraction of the wattage or power used by incandescent lamps.
The DOE plans to work with the lighting industry to educate the public on lumens as a measure of light output. The new campaign will also seek to define other benefits of new lighting technologies including for instance the long life promised by SSL.
Expect more details on the education campaign in the coming months. The DOE will formally launch the initiative this fall. It expects other partners to join what’s an impressive group of brand names from both the retail market and the component and lighting manufacturing segment.
New Product : Led Indoor and Outdoor Programmable Lanterns
Posted by LED Larry in Uncategorized on July 13th, 2010
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US Lighting Products now carries a full line of LED programmable lanterns. Choose from indoor or outdoor with a variety of color options. These lanterns are great for restaurants, business, or home holiday decoration. Be as creative as you want with your message! Low energy usage, and easy to program and hang.
Lamp and Decorative LED lanterns for home or business use. Decorative LED Lanterns for indoor and outdoor use. They are water-proof, dust-proof and anti-dampness features incorporated. Furthermore, this product possess characteristics of energy saving, environmental protection, easy installation, easy of maintenance and brilliant color.
Department of Energy Finishes Largest Zero-Energy Building in US Read more: Department of Energy Finishes Largest Zero-Energy Building in US
Walking the walk is key when playing the environmental game, which is why we’re thrilled to report that the United States Department of Energy has completed their new zero-energy research building in Colorado. It clocks in at 222,000 square feet and is the largest zero-energy building in the United States. Boasting 50% less energy usage than a conventional building of its size and a huge array of on-site solar panels, the new Research Support Facility is able to produce all the energy it needs to function without borrowing from the grid. The US government certainly seems to be leading by example with this passive beauty.
The Research Support Facility is located on the Golden, Colorado campus of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. It will officially open in late August and it will be the working home of 800 federal employees. The building employs techniques new and old to reach its zero-energy status, many of which are hundreds of years old and help the building make the best of natural light from the sun as well as use the earth below it to help heat and cool the building.
Typical office buildings use as much as 30% of their energy expenditure on lighting – not so with the Research Support Facility. The entire east-to-west facing facade is made of as much glass as possible and brings light to all of the building’s interior spaces. It is also outfitted with a smart lighting system which sends employees an on screen message on their computer monitor telling them when to open their blinds. Much of the construction material in the building is recycled including reclaimed steel natural gas pipes that are being used as structural columns. The DOE is hoping that this new building achieves a LEED Platinum rating for all of its green bells and whistles, and it looks like they have a great shot.
LIVE LAMP is a Plant-Studded Sphere of Light
Posted by LED Larry in Uncategorized on July 12th, 2010
Fluorescent lights might not be your first choice for ambient outdoor lighting this summer, but the LIVE LAMP transforms that unenchanting frigid glow into a beautiful globe radiating with life. Designed by Kara Bartlet for the Summer 2010 to(HOLD) line, this otherworldly piece is a glowing glass orb patterned with eighty living Fuschii V Gracillis Tillandsia air plants.
Kept alive by an energy-efficient CFLgrow lamp that attaches within the orb, these epiphytic plants survive with no dirt – just UV, air, and a little bit moisture. With no green thumb required – except for a spritz of water once a week – you can keep those hands free from the rougher perils of gardening, saving them for more enterprising summer activities.
Millennium Visual Systems Reaches Distribution Agreement with PolyBrite International, Inc.
Leading Distributor Offering PolyBrite’s Borealis® LED Lamps
Chestnut Ridge, NY. – Tuesday, June 29, 2010 – Millennium Visual Systems today announced it has signed a distribution agreement with PolyBrite International, Inc., manufacturer of Borealis® LED Lamps and Lighting Systems. Millennium is adding the new line of Borealis products to their existing portfolio of LED lighting technology solutions. The company is an established national supplier of both indoor and outdoor LED lighting solutions.
Millennium will offer the new Borealis® line of LED lamps including patented A19, B10, PAR38, R20, MR16, T8, Panel and Street Lights, High and Low Bay lighting in a variety of color temperatures. The Borealis brand utilizes PolyBrite’s proprietary polymer technology, and achieves maximum brightness, unparalleled performance, and unrivaled light quality. The Borealis line is designed with dimming capabilities and fit into standard fixtures.
Borealis® LED products consume up to 90% less energy than traditional lighting with no radiant heat or Ultraviolet Rays (UV). Providing at least 50,000 hours of operation, Borealis lamps are virtually unbreakable and shock resistant resulting is a significant reduction on energy consumption, maintenance and recycling cost without compromising the quality of light and the environment.
“Our customers will now have the option of using a safe lighting alternative to environmentally taxing Incandescent and Fluorescent lighting.” said Dave Goldberg, Chief Operating Officer of Millennium Visual Systems. “Our agreement with PolyBrite follows our company’s ongoing commitment to earth conscious practices.” Mr. Goldberg further noted that “At Millennium we are deeply committed to providing earth friendly, energy efficient products to promote living a “green” lifestyle.”
“PolyBrite is delighted to appoint Millennium as a stocking distributor for Borealis® LED products. Our agreement strengthens our distribution channels within the lighting industry,” said Carl Scianna, President and CEO for PolyBrite International. “Millennium will stock Borealis products in-house, and provide customers with their highly regarded customer service when purchasing PolyBrite’s Borealis LED products.”
About Millennium Visual Systems: Headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, NJ with business operations in Chestnut Ridge, NY, Millennium Visual Systems designs, produces, sells, and services electronic signs, programmable displays, LED bulbs and emergency lighting that is widely used in government, schools, hospitals, offices, factories, restaurants and retail businesses. Millennium is nationally known for their reputation of delivering quality, reliable products, supported by a high level of professionalism to ensure customer satisfaction. For more information on Millennium’s line of LED products call (845) 356-4100 or visit at www.millenniumvisuals.com, Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin.
About PolyBrite International: PolyBrite International, Inc. has established itself as an innovative global LED lighting technology company since 1995. PolyBrite designs, develops and maintains complete control in manufacturing solid-state lighting products, creating LED lamps, Street Lighting, Panel and Tube Lighting and complete Signage lighting systems under its Borealis® Lighting brand. The Borealis brand of products utilizes PolyBrite’s proprietary polymer technology and patent pending designs, bringing the energy efficiency, environmental sustainability and economic advantages of LED technology to the marketplace. More information on PolyBrite’s Borealis brand of products is available on the Internet at www.polybrite.com or www.borealislighting.com or by calling 1-800-320-3801.
New Rollable Solar Panels Make Roof Installations a Snap!
Flexible rolling solar panels stand to significantly reduce production and installation costs or solar panels of rooftops. With a notable 11% efficiency, the easily-installed thin-film panels may be able to give traditional silicon panels a run for the money.
We can’t wait to see what architects can do with lightweight, bendable solar panels. Rather than using expensive glass and aluminum frames, these units can be literally rolled directly onto metal or flat roofs — thus saving money in materials, time and the extra engineering and upgrades a traditional rack would take. The panels use a Copper-Indium-Gallium-Selenide (CIGS) process that can produce very long panels but does not require a clean room. The cells are mounted on a flexible foil, and pig tail connectors at the end plug into on another to expedite the installation.